Electric switch



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,037

H. l.. VAN VALKENBURG ELECTRIC SWITCH A TTORNEY` Jan. 8, 1929.

H. L. VAN VALKENBURG ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .-'l TTORNE YS switch in closed position.

Patented Jan. 8., 1,929.

UNITED y'STATES mAH L. VAN VALKENBURG, ]?l WAUWATOSA, vWISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB T0 INDUS-A CO., OF MILWAITKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION Ol' WI TRIAL CONTROLLER NBIN.

1,698,037 PATENT OFFICE.

` ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led Iarch 28, 1927. Serial lo. 178,884.

This inventionrelatesto improvements in electric switches.

It is one of the objects of the present .invention to rovide an electric switch having a. quick ma e andI break contact, in whichia comparatively strong pressure is maintained l onthe contact fingers up to the instant ofthe make or break ofthe `contact..

l v A"further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch ofthe quick make and break type which is adapted to carry comparatively heavy currents.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch which while permitting avery slow movement of its controlling arm, will cause the switch contacts to move with a quick positive movement in making or breaking electrical contacts.

A further object Vof the invention y.is ,to provide an electric switch which is of simplev construction, is strong and durable, and is well ada ted for the urpose described.

With tA 'e above an other objects in view, the invention consists of the im roved e1ectric switch and its parts and com inations as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof. In the accompanying drawing 1n which the vsame reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

-Fig. lis a side view of the improved electric switch, the cover beingy removed to'show interior construction; 1 4

Fig. 2 is 'a vertical sectional view thereof t-aken online 2--2 ofFig. 1., and showing the Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the switch shown in open position;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionalview taken on line 4-24 of Fig. 1, parts broken away; and

rig. 5 is a setserial detail-'view sewingvthe parts in another position.

.Referring t0 the drawings,th e numeral 8 indicates a frame or rectangular `casing hav# ing. a side opening closed by a cover 9 which is removably secured to the casin by screws 10. Thecasing is provided withugs 11 for attaching it to a support as desired. One'of the inner walls of the casing is formed, with projecting portions 12 to which a slate or other insulating panel 13 is connected by screws 14. Two spaced fixed contacts 15 are mounted on the face of the panel by countersunk screws 16, and wire terminals 17 are connected to the fixed contacts by screws 18. A U'-sha ed bracket 19 is mounted rigidly on the pane 13 and its arms 19 extend outward- 1yl therefrom and carry comparatively a lon s aft 20 and a'short shaft 21, the short shag beiner outermost from the panel. A switch arm bell lcrank member 22 is j ournaled on the short shaft 21 between the two outermost arms 19 and carries a transverse insulating bar 23 to which the angular portions of spaced yieldin two art switch fingers 24 are connected. T e yie ding portions 24 of the switch fingers are positioned toen age and forman electrical contact with the ed contacts 15 when in their on position. Said yielding portions are loosely, pivotally connected to the other portions of the fingers 24 by screws 25 which are threaded through the inner end portions of the parts 24 and extend loosely through the non-yielding portions of the fingers 24. Headed pins 26 extending loosely through b'oth portions of the contact' 'fingers arefencircledsby springs-- 27 which are interposed between the parts 24 l than 'the yielding portions 24 and through U-shaped .clamping members 29 to clampend portions of pig tail leads 30 extending betweenthe U-sha the yielding portions of t e fingers 24,' as

.clearly shown in Fig. 5,. 'The-opposite ends of the pig tail leadslO are connected to wire terminals 31 mounted Von the insulating panel members and' 13 opposite to the endupon which the-terminals 17 are mounted. The end casing 9 adjacent the te '31 is provided with a threaded opemng 32 through which the circuit wires (not shown) extend rtion of the nection between the lever 33 and the bell crank lever 22, in moving fromone position to the other, will travel in an arc'intersecting an imaginary line between the fulcra of the levers 33 and 22 and of course will not move the switch arm until the axis of the pivotal connection mentioned swings to one or the other side of said imaginary line thus 'providing a quick positive Imovement of the' switch arm. The other or longer arm 33 of the angular lever 33 extends at an angle towards one side edge ofthe slate and is notched to receive one of the loopedI ends of a coiled spring 35.- The other looped end of the coiled spring 35 is hooked over the notched end portion of a cranked arm 36'` having a shaft portion 38 which extends through and is journaled in one side portion of the casing 8.

YThe axis of the cranked arm 36 is so lpositioned with relation tothe arc of movement of the lever part 33 that the coiled spring 35 will be swung over the plane of the axis of the long shaft 20, so that in turning, the lever 33 will not be moved u ntil the axis of the coiled spring 35 swings over the plane of the axis of the long shaft 20, and when this occurs, the lever 33 will be moved with a quick, positive movement. The said movement will at the same time move the axis of the link and lever pivot over the imaginar line be fore mentioned and cause the switc contacts there is any movement of the link 34 and the .movement of said link axis over the imaginary line before switch arms are moved provides for maintaining the tension on the switch arms up to the inst-ant they are moved, and then moving the arms with a quick positive movement regardless of the slowness of the movement of the controlling means now about to be described.

f The cranked arm shaft 38 at its outer end vhas mounted fastthereon a double arm 40 formed with bifurcated end portions 40 for enga ement with a chain or other means 41 whic is adapted to extend above and around the upper portion of the casing, as indicated in Fig. 2. Idle guide pulleys 42 on the upper ortion of the casing 8 guide and support tile said Chaim/The chain at one end maybe connected to a float 43 extending into a tank 44 and the other end of the chain is connected to a counterweight 45 to partly counterbalance the iioat'to permit the level of the water in the tank `to control the movement of the chain. The chain `extends freely between the end bifurcations of the double arm andis maintained in position with l relation thereto by transverse pins 46'. En-

gaging 'members 47 adustably clamped to the chain beneath the en s 40 of the arms are ,positioned to engage said ends and move the double arm to actuate the switch.

As the coiled spring .is put under considverable tension when the parts are moved to" actuate the movable contacts, the contacts will be held firmly together until the circuit is broken and in breaking the movement will beaccomplished very quickly with a sna The same movements in reverse order wil occur in making electrical contact between the contacts.

From the foregoing description, it will be seenthat the electric switch is of very simple construction and is well adapted for the purpose described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An electric switch, comprising a frame, an insulating member connected thereto, a bracket connected to the insulating member,

a lever member fulcrumed on the bracket and having two arms, a movable switch contact fulcrumed on the bracket and having a toggle and pivotalconnection with one of the arms of. the lever member, a fixed contact mounted on the insulating member and engaged by the movable contact, terminals mounted on the insulating member and connected to the contacts, a cranked arm journaled in the frame, a yielding means connected to the cranked arm and to the other arm of the lever member and positioned to swing transversely across the plane of the axis of the lever member ulcrum to actuate the movable contact with a quick positive movement, and means for rocking the cranked arm.

2. An electric switch, comprising a frame, an insulating member connected thereto, a bracket connected to the insulating member, a fixed Contact mounted on the insulating member, a lever member'fulcrulned'on the bracket and having two armsone of which extends to one-"sidelof the insulating member, a movablefswitcli contact fulcrumed on the bracket andhaving a toggle and pivotal connectionwith'fonefof the arms of the lever member and movable to engage the ixed contact, terminals mounted on the insulating member and connected to the contacts, "a

mounted llhl cranked arm j ournaled in the frame, a coiled spring connected to the cranked arm and to the extendingother arm of the lever member and positioned to swing transversely across the plane ofthe axis of the lever member fulcrum to actuate the movable member with a quick positive movement, and means for rocking the cranked arm.

3. An electric switch, comprising al frame, an insulating member connected thereto, a bracket connected to the insulating member, fixed contacts mounted on the insulating member, a lever member fulcrumed on the bracket and having two arms, one of which extends to one side of the fulcrum of the lever member, movable switch contacts fulcrumed on the bracket and having a toggle and pivotal connection with one of the arms of the lever member. and movable to engage t-he fixed contacts, terminals mounted on the in sulating member and connected to the movable and the fixed contacts, a cranked arm journaled in the frame and extending to a point on the opposite side ot' the fulcrum of the lever member'to that of the extending arm of the lever member, a coiled spring connected to the cranked arm and to the extending arm of the lever member and arranged to swing transversely across the plane of the axis of the lever member fulcrum to actuate the movable member with a quick positive movement, and means for rocking the cranked arm.

4. An electric switch, comprising a casing, an insulating member mounted therein, a bracket mounted on the insulating-.member, fixed contacts mounted on the insulating member, a lever member fulcrumed on the bracket and having two arms, one of which extends to one side of the fulcrum of the lever member, movable switch contacts yieldingly ulcrumed on the bracket, a toggle link pivotally connecting the movable switch contacts to the arm of the lever member other than the arm extending to one side of the lever fulcrum, andarranged to have its pivotal connection with the lever member swing to opposite sides of an imaginary line between the fulcra of the switches and the lever member, terminals mounted on the insulating member and connected to the movable and fixed contacts, a cranked arm extending through and journaled in the casing and having a portion on the opposite side of the ulcrum of the lever member yto that of the extending arm of the lever member, a coiled spring connected to the cranked arm and to nthe-extending arm of the lever member and arranged to swing transversely across the plane of the axis of the lever member fulcrum to actuate the movable member with a.

quick positive movement, and means for rocking the cranked arm.

5. An electric switch, comprising a casing, an insulating panel mounted therein, a U- 'shaped bracket mounted on the panel, pairs of fixed contacts mounted on the panel, a lever member fulcrumed on the bracket and having two arms, one of which extends to one side of the fulcrum of the lever member, two part movable switch contacts yieldingly fulcrun'ied on the bracket, a toggle link pivotally connecting the movable switch contacts to the arm of the lever member other than the arm which extends to one side of the lever fulcrum, and arranged to have its pivotal connection with the lever member swing to opposite sides of an imaginary line between the fulcra'of the switches and the lever member, terminals mounted on the insulating member and connected to the fixed and movable contacts, some of said terminals having fiexible connections with th(` yielding portions of the movable contacts, a cranked arm extending through and journaled in the casing'and having a portion on the opposite side of the fulcrum of the lever member to that of' the extending arm of the lever member, a coiled spring connected to the cranked arm and to the extending arm of the vlever member and arranged to swing transversely across the plane ofthe axis of the-lever member fulc-rum to actuate the movable member with a 'l quick positive movement,vv and :means for rocking the' cranked arm.

6. An electric switch, comprising an insulating support, a pair of fixed contacts mounted thereon, a pair of two part contacts pivotally mounted on the support and movable to engage the fixed contacts, a lever member pivotally mounted on the support and having a toggle link connection with the movable contacts and an arm projecting to one side of the pivotal connection of the lever member with the support, said toggle link having its pivotal connection with the lever member swing to opposite sides of an imaginary line between the fulcra of the switches and the lever member, a cranked arm journaled on the support and having its cranked portion extending on the side of the pivotal connection of the lever member opposite to Ythe projecting arm, a spring connected to the cranked arm and to the projecting arm of the lever member and arranged to swing transversely across the plane of the axis ot HERMAN L. VAN VALKENBURG. 

